Paluch 'never too busy to answer stupid questions'

The late nights spent getting the big story just right. The giggles shared over a situation only another journalist would find funny. The knuckleheads with whom you worked for years or decades or a lifetime.

Farewell columns force us to remember the things we'll miss about working in journalism, the elements that bring a lump to the throat and a tear to the eye once we've decided to walk away to do something else.

This week we bid farewell to Amber Paluch, a Green Bay native and a graduate of Green Bay Southwest High School and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. She's going to work for the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation.

Amber has been a journalist since 1998, a Press-Gazette editor since 2005, and a friend since the day we met her. From her love of cats to her generosity with newsroom candy to her, ahem, interest in a certain Packers placekicker, here's what we'll remember:

"I always giggled because she has a little secret crush on Mason Crosby. I always grab her a couple file photos from training camp practice. Every time I see Crosby on the field I think of Amber." — Evan Siegle, photojournalist.

"Whether it's brainstorming social media strategies, editing the hell out of a rough election story that's way over your head, or patiently hearing you out as you try to force her to make major life decisions for you, she manages to squeeze it all in. She is also pretty good at lobbying for newsroom cake." — Danielle Beyer, digital producer.

"Amber finds that personal connection with people which makes working with her more fulfilling and fun. With me it was bar jokes, 'Man walks into a bar...' type. It helped get us through some rough days." — Jim Matthews, photo editor.

"About a year ago, my family decided to adopt a cat from the Bay Area Humane Society as a birthday gift for our teenage son. I knew Amber was a cat person, so I mentioned it to her. He face positively lit up. To discover that I was becoming a 'cat person,' she seemed almost as happy as our son." — Scott Cooper Williams, Green Bay reporter.

"Amber always — always — had time, even when you know she really didn't, if you stuck your head into her office with a question, a dilemma or you just wanted to marvel at what Jack Bauer did on '24' the night before." — Kendra Meinert, features coordinator.

"My greatest achievement at the Press-Gazette is making Amber's quote board on several occasions. She keeps quotes that make her laugh. I can't recall which of my quotes made it (or if any are appropriate to be shared) but it speaks to Amber's commitment to making the newsroom an enjoyable place to work." — Dan Higgins, features content editor.

"Amber's love/need of coffee is epic. It fell to Andy Nelesen and I to keep her stoked with McDonald's coffee. No trip to Mickey D's was complete without bringing back a medium black coffee. She always lit up when she saw us walking toward her, coffee in hand." — Rich Ryman, business reporter.

"I came into work one afternoon and Amber pounced on me. 'Oh, great,' I thought. 'I'm either in trouble or there's some big assignment coming my way.' Nope. She had spotted an item in the USA TODAY section where they identified someone's middle name as 'Nmi,' and she couldn't wait to share it. 'Nmi' stands for 'no middle initial.'" — Paul Srubas, metro reporter.

"The fact that Amber gave up her office to sit among the reporters speaks enormously about her personality and work ethic. I also see her working nearly as late as me on Friday when I have the night shift, and I know she comes in much earlier than I do." — Adam Rodewald, metro reporter.

"Amber was never too busy to answer stupid questions or take a weekend phone call when some plan fell through. And whenever I did something she thought was special, I would find Twizzlers strawberry licorice on my desk. Sometimes she would do it for no reason. Hey, there's a bag there now!" — Steve Kirchman, assistant production editor.

"When Amber interviewed here 10 years ago, she worried about being able to manage such a large, experienced staff of reporters. After all, she was coming from a smaller paper. She needn't have worried. Everything turned out fine." — Jeff Ash, digital producer.